Office of the Superintendent

Dr. Cowherd became superintendent in December 2015. Before serving as superintendent, Dr. Cowherd was the assistant superintendent for school improvement, with duties that included strategic planning, K-12 principal supervision and leadership development. She has been in the district for 11 years, previously serving as assistant to the superintendent and a building administrator. Before entering school administration, she was an instrumental music teacher in southwest Missouri and the Shawnee Mission School District.

She led the development of our district’s strategic plan, she was influential in the development of our Smart Start early literacy program and she earned recognition throughout the state for her leadership in online learning. Dr. Cowherd received the March of Dimes Teacher of the Year award, the Shawnee Mission West Teacher of the Year award and the Influential Educator award from the Missouri Scholars Academy.